Caladium plant named ‘Radiance’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Radiance’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and very rapid growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are bright pink in color with dark pink-colored centers, red-colored venation and dark green-colored margins; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RADIANCE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referredto as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Radiance’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2007 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘RedFlash’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Caladium×hortulanum identified as code number WS-03-36, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers(cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing anaxillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since March, 2009 has shown that theunique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Radiance’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Radiance’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and very rapid growth rate.    -   3. Fancy-type leaves that are bright pink in color with dark        pink-colored centers, red-colored venation and dark        green-colored margins.    -   4. Good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Red Flash’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more compact and mounding than        plants of ‘Red Flash’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are faster growing and produce        finished plants about two to three weeks earlier than plants of        ‘Red Flash’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Red Flash’ differ in leaf        color as leaves of plants of ‘Red Flash’ are dark green in color        with dark red-colored centers and primary veins and pink-colored        spots.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are faster growing and produce        finished plants about one week earlier than plants of the male        parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and the male parent selection        differ in leaf shape and color as leaves of plants of the male        patent selection are lance leaf-types that are dark green in        color with grey green-colored centers occasionally blushed with        pink.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants ofCaladium×hortulanum ‘Mrs. Arno Nehrling’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plantsof ‘Mrs. Arno Nehrling’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact and uniformly        mounding than plants of ‘Mrs. Arno Nehrling’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium were faster growing and produced        finished plants about one week earlier than plants of ‘Mrs. Arno        Nehrling’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Mrs. Arno Nehrling’ differed        in leaf color as leaves of plants of ‘Mrs. Arno Nehrling’ were        green in color with white to tan pink-colored interveinal areas        and red-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants ofCaladium×hortulanum ‘White Queen’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plantsof ‘White Queen’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact and uniformly        mounding than plants of ‘White Queen’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium were faster growing and produced        finished plants about one week earlier than plants of ‘White        Queen’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Queen’ differed in leaf        color as leaves of plants of ‘White Queen’ had white to        pink-colored interveinal areas with red-colored venation        surrounded by red pink-colored areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Radiance’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse(tuber not de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Red Flash’ (left),‘Radiance’ (center) and the male parent selection (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of ‘White Queen’ (left), ‘Radiance’ (center) and‘Mrs. Arno Nehrling’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a side perspective viewof typical plants of ‘Radiance’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a comparison view oftypical plants of ‘Radiance’ grown in containers; the plant on the lefthas not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had itstuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a close-up view oftypical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Radiance’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Radiance’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in apolypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park,Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions inan outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown undercultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nurseryproduction. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, daytemperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperaturesranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants,day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperaturesranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from about10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were fourweeks old, and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were eight months oldwhen the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Radiance’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Caladium×hortulanum identified as code number WS-03-36, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            temperatures about 32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;            individual segments elliptic or irregular. Height: About            3.5 cm. Diameter: About 4.6 cm to 5.1 cm. Segment height:            About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Segment diameter: About 1.3 cm to            1.8 cm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color:            Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close to 199A to 199B.            Epidermis, dried: Close to 200A. Cortical tissue: Close to            2D. Axillary buds: Close to N170D and 36D. Root description:            Thick, fleshy contractile roots; color, close to 155C and            199C. Rooting habit: Medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly            mounded plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; very            rapid growth rate, potted plants in finished or saleable            form in about four weeks after planting tubers; leaf            petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on            tubers; petioles mostly upright and leaning outwardly with            development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 24 cm to 28 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 28 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted            plants.—About 30 cm to 34 cm.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,            tubers not de-eyed.—About one to two develop per #1 tuber.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,            tubers de-eyed.—About two to three develop per #1 tuber.        -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 6            cm to 7.9 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.3 cm. Shape: Ligulate            to somewhat wedge-shaped. Apex: Acuminate to cuspidate.            Base: Sheathing the stem. Color, inner surface: Close to            N155C; colors and patterns of the outside surface are            visible on the inner surface. Color, outer surface: Close to            177D and N170D and stippled, streaked and tessellated with            close to 147A tinged with close to N199A; with development,            color becoming closer to 199B to 199C and N199B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.        -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 16.5 cm to 22            cm.        -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants, flattened.—About 11.2            cm to 14 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.        -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Dull sheen.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Glaucous, dull sheen.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,            upper surface: Interveinal colors: Random areas of close to            147A to 147B, 146B, 48C and 48D; towards the margins, close            to 147A flecked with close to 49D. Margin edge: Close to            187B. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Midrib and primary            venation: Close to 53A; areas adjacent to venation, close to            53A to 53B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Interveinal            colors: Random areas of close to 191B tinged with close to            146B, 49C and 51D; towards the margins, close to 191A and            191B. Margin edge: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to            187A. Midrib and primary venation: Close to 182C to 182D;            areas adjacent to venation, close to 184B. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Interveinal colors: Close to 48B to            48C; towards the margins, close to 147A flecked with close            to 48B. Margin edge: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to            187A. Midrib and primary venation: Close to 53A; areas            adjacent to venation, close to 53B to 53C. Secondary            venation: Close to 147A and close to between 147A and 146B.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Interveinal colors:            Close to 49C and 51C to 51D; towards the margins, close to            191B flecked with close to 49D. Margin edge: Close to 187B.            Basal notch: Close to 187A. Midrib and primary venation:            Close to 182D; areas adjacent to venation, close to 184B.            Secondary venation: Close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with            development, leaning outwardly; flexible. Length,            shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 23.5 cm to 26.5 cm.            Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3.5            mm to 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;            glaucous. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants, Just below            the leaf and petiole junction: Close to 182A and 182C to            182D. Overall: Close to 170D and N170D, stippled, streaked            and tessellated with close to 147A tinged with close to            N199A. Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About            4.5 cm to 6.5 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: About 7 mm. Texture, inner and outer surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted            plants, inner surface: Close to N155D and N170D. Wing color,            shadehouse-grown potted plants, outer surface: Close to            177D, N170D and N155D, stippled, streaked and tessellated            with close to 147A tinged with close to N199A.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on four week-old    shadehouse-grown potted plants.    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes            surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;            spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers            separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the            proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on            the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop            at junction of female and male flower zones; near this            junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses            the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male            flowers.        -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; sweet, jasmine-like with camphor            note.        -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the            new Caladium typically flower during the spring in central            Florida; early flowering habit, flowers develop about four            weeks after growth commences; inflorescences last about            three days before fading; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 9.4 cm. Length, distal open            portion: About 6 cm. Length, proximal closed portion: About            3.4 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.4 cm. Width, at            constriction: About 1.1 cm. Width, proximal closed portion:            About 2.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire; slightly reflexed. Texture, front            and rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, front surface:            Dull sheen. Luster, rear surface: Glaucous. Color, front            surface: Distal open portion: Close to N155D and N155C; with            development, color becoming closer to 199C to 199D. Proximal            closed portion: Close to 194B; towards the base, close to            N186D and 187C; color does not change with development.            Color, rear surface: Distal open portion: Close to 155B and            155C tinged with close to 145D; color does not change with            development. Proximal closed portion: Close to 148B to 148C,            streaked with close to 147B to 147C and variably flushed or            tinged with close to 182A to 182B and 183D; color does not            change with development.        -   Spadix.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Length, male flower zone:            About 3.4 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.5 cm. Length,            female flower zone: About 1.6 cm. Diameter, male flower            zone: About 8 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone: About 5 mm.            Diameter, female flower zone: About 1 cm. Shape: Columnar.            Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect:            Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to 13D. Color,            mature, sterile zone: Close to 11D. Color, mature, female            zone: Close to 20C to 20D and 155C. Male flowers: Quantity            per spadix: About 60. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 2 mm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 4C. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 95.            Shape: Obovate. Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Stigma color: Close to 20C to 20D. Ovary color: Close to            155C.        -   Scape.—Length: About 21.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glaucous. Color, just below            spathe: Close to 146C and 147B tinged with close to 199C to            199D. Color, overall: Close to 199B to 199C tinged with            close to 147A, and faintly streaked, stippled and            tessellated with close to 147A tinged with close to 199A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been    observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above    average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new    Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Caladium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about    40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Radiance’ asillustrated and described.